Albee, Sarah. Painter and the President, The: Gilbert Stuart’s Brush with George Washington. Stacy Innerst, Illus. Calkins Creek, 08/2024. [40]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-6626-8000-7. GRADES 2–5. ADDITIONAL.
Gilbert Stuart painted several portraits of George Washington, and this describes their meeting and unusual relationship. Stuart liked to talk and tell jokes while painting, but Washington often didn’t have the patience for those conversations. The text focuses on the portrait Stuart did that is used on the dollar bill, so this is about a particular vignette in their lives and not much more. The acrylic illustrations have an impressionistic style that is quite different from Stuart’s realistic portrait style, but add humor. Back matter includes replicas of other Presidential portraits Stuart painted, a timeline, bibliography, source notes, and author’s note. Review based on an ARC.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool